Posted by Melanie-00 on January 15, 2011, at 17:31:32
In reply to Re: NAC for OCD. Cellulose + Silicon Dioxide! :(, posted by mogger on January 14, 2011, at 22:28:44
Hi Joseph,
You are fortunate that you did not experience any GI problems with the inositol. I've been on 18 g/day (in divided doses) of inositol for a few months now, but I still think I suffer from some minor GI complaints due to the inositol ... Actually, due to my GI complaints, I'd like to stop taking the inositol if the NAC helps just as much with my trichotillomania (time will tell ...)
Thanks for answering my question, and I'm definitely going to stick with the NAC for at least 9 full weeks on the 2400 mg dose before I make a decision as to whether it's working for me or not. However, I'm optimistic that it may work a bit faster for me (maybe after only 3 weeks on the 2400 mg dose). That's because I'm mainly taking it for trichotillomania and anxiety, rather than for OCD. I think I have some OCD leanings, but after you got me interested in NAC, the main thing that convinced me to try it was that, according to a 2009 clinical trial study published in the Arch Gen Psychiatry, NAC was found to be useful in treating trichotillomania. In this study, the subjects took either a placebo or NAC for 12 weeks. For the first 6 weeks, they took 1200 g, and then if they hadn't responded, they took 2400 g for the remaining 6 weeks. By week 9 of the study, 55% of the participants taking NAC had shown a reduction in trich symptoms (a much higher response rate than in the placebo group). So that's why I'm optimistic I'll notice something fairly soon, as I reached the 2400 mg dose about a week ago. Maybe I'll know something in another 2-3 weeks. But like I said, I'm going to definitely be giving this supplement a chance for a few months before I evaluate whether to keep up with it or not. Actually, I'll probably have to stop taking the inositol to know for sure whether the NAC helps with my trichotillomania, as for now, I have my trich mostly under control thanks to the inositol, anyway.
So, anyway, to answer your question, no, I'm not taking an SSRI. I'm taking the 17-18 g of inositol, 2400 mg of NAC, and 600 mg of Rhodiola rosea every day. I also take a magnesium glycinate/calcium glycinate supplement on an as-needed basis. It seems to give me a bit of a calm feeling (relaxes my muscles). Plus, I'm upping my cardiovascular exercise.
I started taking the inositol several months ago, but the other supplements I've added more recently, so I'm still evaluating this regime for myself. I wouldn't be opposed to trying an SSRI, but the reason I decided to go down the complementary/alternative treatment route is that I don't have access to a doctor right now. (Due to an odd situation, my doctor and health insurance coverage are actually in another state.) And actually, I really haven't had all that much luck with doctors helping me with mental health issues in the past. This time, I'm doing my own research, using it as I can, and also making notes so that I will be more informed by the time I start working with a doctor again.
By the way, are you also using the Swanson brand of inositol? I'm using the Swanson brand of NAC, but I've been taking the Country Life brand of inositol, which is quite a bit more expensive. I was thinking of switching to the Swanson brand to save money. Which brand do you use, and would you recommend it -- sounds like your satisfied with whatever brand you are using? I'm a little hesitant to switch brands because the inositol is the one thing that really does seem to help me. That being said, how it seems to help is limited to helping me control my trich symptoms; it doesn't seem to do anything for anxiety or mood for me ....
Thanks again for posting on these boards, and for your follow-up to my question. Right now, I am feeling very hopeful about the NAC. I've also been feeling a tiny bit less anxious over the past couple of days. Don't know yet what should get the credit for that shift, if anything. Maybe it's just a random shift in mood for me.
All the best,
Melanie
poster:Melanie-00
thread:972938
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20101202/msgs/976881.html